Atlanta Dream Re-Signs WNBA All-Star Angel McCoughtry

The Atlanta Dream recently announced that the team has re-signed All-Star and 2012 league scoring leader Angel McCoughtry to a multi-year deal. Per team policy, contract terms were not disclosed.

“We’re very excited to have Angel back” said Dream head coach and general manager Fred Williams. “She’s an Olympian and elite player who has played extremely well during her WNBA career in Atlanta.

“It’s exciting to know she will continue to build her career with the Dream. Angel has helped us reach the Finals twice, and wants to continue to contribute that success as part of the team,” Williams continued.McCoughtry, a 6-1 forward, has played her entire four-year career in Atlanta after coming to the Dream as the No. 1 overall pick of the 2009 WNBA Draft. She has helped guide the team to four consecutive playoff appearances, including back-to-back trips to the WNBA Finals in 2010-11. Her career has already seen her earn First-Team All-WNBA honors, First-Team All-Defensive Team honors, an All-Star selection, a league scoring title, WNBA Rookie of the Year recognition and an Olympic gold medal.

McCoughtry has played in 125 games over four seasons for Atlanta, averaging 19.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 2.2 steals per game. Her career scoring average ranks fifth best in WNBA history, and her steals average is third best. She has averaged at least 21 points per game in each of the last three seasons, ranking in the top three in the league in scoring all three years.

“I’m happy and excited to be able to continue my career with the Atlanta Dream” said McCoughtry. “Atlanta is now my home, as well as the only WNBA team I’ve ever played for and I look forward to competing for more championships with my teammates in the years to come.”

Last season, McCoughtry won her first WNBA scoring title, averaging 21.4 points per game, and also led the league in steals (2.5). She became just the second player in league history – and first since Sheryl Swoopes in 2000 – to lead the league in both categories in the same season. In the middle of the 2012 season she helped Team USA win gold at the London Olympics, finishing as the team’s second leading scorer (10.9 points per game) while leading all players at the Olympics with 20 steals.

In 2011, McCoughtry was second in the league in scoring (21.6 ppg) en route to being named to the All-WNBA First Team and the WNBA All-Defensive First Team. She was named to the All-Star team that year, and set a WNBA Finals scoring record with a 38-point performance against Minnesota.

McCoughtry was sixth in the 2010 Most Valuable Player voting after averaging 21.1 points per game, and was second in the Defensive Player of the Year voting that season. She was named WNBA Rookie of the Year in 2009 after averaging 12.8 points per game and leading all rookies in points and steals.

The Baltimore, Md., native came to the Dream from the University of Louisville, where she was a three-time All-American who led the Cardinals to the championship game as a senior. She finished her career as Louisville’s all-time leader in scoring (2,779 points) and rebounding (1,261).